Favorable Areas Research Articles

Compound Tropical Cyclone Heat (TC‐Heat) Hazard in Hong Kong: Amplifying Urban Heat Extremes With Storm Position‐Driven Peripheral Warming and Urban Footprint

AbstractCompound hazards involving tropical cyclones and extreme heat (“TC‐heat”) have rarely been examined in prior research. Peripheral subsidence associated with cyclones can warm an area to varying degrees, depending on the cyclone's strength and position. Meanwhile, the peripheral airflow also overwhelmed the land‐sea breeze circulation system in coastal cities and favored downwind urbanized heat advection on the Southern China coastline. Here, we systematically applied ERA5 global reanalysis data, local surface‐level observations, MODIS‐based land‐cover data and HYSPLIT backward trajectories to evaluate how the position of distant TCs may divert the monsoon system and foster the surface heat advection from upwind urban agglomerate amplifying air temperature in downwind coastline. The analysis suggests when a distant TC is situated in a favorable area (the vicinity of Taiwan and Luzon Strait) at roughly 500–1,250 km to the east of Hong Kong, it forms a unique meteorological condition which allows the surface heat transport from the Greater Bay Area to Hong Kong, reflecting that regional build‐up of heat could be an important mechanism for producing local heat extremes.

Translating mineral systems criteria into a prospectivity model for IOCG deposits in the Kolari region, Finland

The mineral system approach facilitates mapping the fingerprints of geological processes in ore formation using mineral prospectivity modeling (MPM). It aims to reduce the time and cost of exploration as a priority in the mineral exploration industry. Finland, which is covered with thick soil, dense vegetation, and snow in winter and thus has limited outcrops, serves as a suitable testing ground for this method. In this contribution, MPM was employed to predict favorable targets for Fe-Cu-Au (IOCG) deposits in the Kolari region, northwestern Finland. The mineral system components ore metal and sulfur sources, pathways, energy sources/drivers, traps, and the geological factors influencing the ore-forming processes were translated into mappable criteria and were considered for a regional-scale analysis. Knowledge-driven, fuzzy logic overlay, fuzzy inference system, and geometric average methods integrate evidential layers derived from geological (scale-free geology map), geochemical (till and bedrock sample geochemistry), and geophysical data (magnetic, radiometric, electromagnetic measurements, and gravity worms). Subsequently, the data were modeled using a combined conceptual/empirical approach, i.e. fuzzified evidential layers and logistic regression. In the prospectivity models, existing IOCG deposits are consistently placed within high-favorability areas. In addition, new exploration targets were identified. The models were validated against known IOCG deposits using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis and average Area Under the Curve (AUC) with values of final prospectivity models consistently reaching scores > 0.8. This indicates a favorable outcome of the application of MPM, making the approach applicable to other regions and ore deposit types. A majority voting ensemble technique was employed to combine the favorable areas of each prospectivity model. Then a confidence index was adopted reducing uncertainty linked to the models generated. These outputs consistently facilitated the identification of exploration targets more reliably.

Growth performances of Clarias gariepinus juveniles fed with Jatropha curcas seed meal

Jatropha curcas is an oil producing seed with high nutritional qualities for consumption. However, due to inherent anti-nutritional factors, appropriate processing is necessary to improve its nutrients utilization. This study was aimed at processing J. curcas using solvent-extraction method and evaluating its inclusion effects in the diet for Clarias gariepinus on its growth status. J. curcas meal was extracted using 80 % methanol to remove phorbol esters and other anti-nutrients. Thereafter, five iso-nitrogenous diets (40 % crude protein) were formulated containing J. curcas meal replacements of soybeans meal at 0 % (TRT0), 25 % (TRT25), 50 % (TRT50), 75 % (TRT75) and 100 % (TRT100) and fed to C. gariepinus for 70 days. Results showed that TRT25 fish had the highest mean weight gain and specific growth. The serum alkaline phosphate, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase levels began to rise significantly (p ≤ 0.05) at 50 % replacement. Likewise, the assessment of gut ecology and morphology indicated that TRT25 had significantly (p ≤ 0.05) the highest gut bacteria colony forming unit (2.60 ×104±0.02cfu/g) and most favorable area of absorption (0.16±0.01 cm2). The histopathological observation of the fish intestine, liver and gills indicated no visible deformity in TRT0 and TRT25 fish. However, various degrees of degenerations were observed in the fish fed with 50 % and higher inclusion of J. curcas. This study showed that methanol-extracted J. curcas meal can be effectively utilized for C. gariepinus at 25 % of replacement.

Evaluation of fractured carbonate reservoir and prediction of favorable areas in the eastern area of Amu Darya Right Bank

Fractured carbonate reservoirs are significantly developed in the eastern area of the Amu Darya Right Bank. However, their types, distributions, and fracture characteristics remain unclear. This uncertainty complicates reservoir prediction and hampers exploration and development processes. Given the strong correlation between fracture development and productivity, analyzing fractures is crucial. Comprehensive evaluation and prediction methods for fractured reservoirs are essential for advancing the oil and gas industry. Based on core and geological data analyses, it finds that these reservoirs exhibit low porosity and low to ultra-low permeability. By employing conventional logging alongside specialized methods, such as electrical imaging, nuclear magnetic resonance, and far detection logging, fractures and their effectiveness can be identified and evaluated, clarifying the characteristics of reservoir spaces. Constrained by the results from core and logging analyses, seismic single attribute analysis techniques is applied to predict fractures in the HX block of Amu Darya. To mitigate the limitations of single-attribute analysis, utilize a well-supervised BP neural network method for comprehensive fracture prediction. This multi-attribute approach increases the fracture prediction probability from less than 70%–72.7%. By integrating geological understanding and well logging, and considering the influence of lithology and structure on the reservoir, synthesize the fracture prediction results to optimally select favorable areas.

Apparent Ophidiomycosis Alters Eastern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) Behavior and Habitat Use.

Pathogens not only cause mortality but also impose nonlethal fitness consequences. Snakes experience trade-offs associated with behaviors that combat disease but divert time and energy away from other critical activities. The impacts of such behaviors on fitness remain poorly understood, raising concerns amid the emergence of novel herpetofaunal diseases. Ophidiomycosis, caused by the ascomycete fungus Ophidiomyces ophidiicola, impacts free-ranging snakes across North America and has been implicated in declines of several imperiled populations. Although previous ophidiomycosis research has primarily focused on disease-related mortality, few studies have evaluated nonlethal impacts on snake fitness. To address this knowledge gap, we investigated the effects of apparent ophidiomycosis on the behavior, habitat use, and movement of snakes in central New Jersey, USA, from 2020 to 2021. Our focal species was the eastern copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix), a state species of special concern with limited representation in the ophidiomycosis literature. Although we did not observe mortality in our study population, we found that copperheads with apparent ophidiomycosis (8/31 individuals) displayed significantly different thermoregulatory behaviors than snakes without ophidiomycosis. Specifically, individuals with apparent ophidiomycosis favored areas with less canopy cover, less rock cover, and more coarse woody debris. Our findings suggest that snakes with apparent ophidiomycosis select habitats conducive to initiating behavior-mediated fever, potentially facilitating recovery.

Wind power plant site selection problem solution using GIS and resource assessment and analysis of wind energy potential by estimating Weibull distribution function for sustainable energy production: The case of Bitlis/Turkey

Wind energy, being a sustainable energy source, is a benign, dependable, limitless, and cost-effective source of energy. This study involved the creation of a wind power plant site selection map at a provincial scale using a GIS application. The map took into account both environmental risks and environmental criteria. A wind energy measurement station of the PCE-FWS 20 type, equipped with a touch screen, was installed in the Rahva campus of Bitlis Eren University. Over the course of one year, data on wind direction, wind speed, temperature, relative humidity, and air pressure were collected at 5-s intervals and averaged over 20-min periods. The purpose of this study was to assess the suitability of the measured region for wind energy potential. A comprehensive statistical analysis was conducted using all the data collected during this period to assess the wind energy potential in the studied region. The Weibull distribution was employed to analyse the wind energy potential of this particular region. We employed graphical techniques to ascertain the Weibull distribution. The wind data analysis and simulation were conducted using the Matlab application. Analysed were the monthly statistical wind energy potential of the region, wherein the average wind speed and power density values were determined and presented through graphs at 20-min intervals. Upon analyzing the map generated using the Geographical Information Systems (GIS) technique, it has been ascertained that Bitlis Eren University Rahva campus is located in favorable areas.

The foresight methodology for transitional shale gas reservoirs prediction based on a knowledge graph

The sedimentary environment in the eastern Ordos area of China is complex and contains a large number of transitional facies environments. Yet, there are many characteristics such as large vertical lithology changes, complex lateral sedimentary environment changes, small monolith thickness and large organic matter content changes, which lead to large uncertainty in the prediction of favorable areas for transitional shale gas. As the intricate reservoirs continue to unfold, the conventional linear prediction methods find themselves facing an arduous path to meet the demands of development. The ever-evolving complexity of these reservoirs has outpaced the capabilities of these traditional approaches. It becomes apparent that a more comprehensive and adaptable approach is necessary to navigate the intricacies of these reservoirs and unlock their hidden potential. Therefore, we put forward a method of introducing knowledge graph into transitional shale gas reservoir prediction in the eastern Ordos region by using big data technology. Because artificial intelligence big data relies heavily on data tags, it is particularly important for the construction of tags. Firstly, a top-down knowledge graph in the field of reservoir prediction is constructed to determine the key parameters used in prediction, namely porosity, total organic carbon and brittleness index. Secondly, the decision tree knowledge graph optimization label is constructed in a bottom-up way. The key parameter of this prediction is the knowledge graph obtained according to the professional knowledge of reservoir prediction, so as to optimize the school label of U-net and reduce the workload of artificial judgment. The results of the combination of the two methods are applied to 11 wells in Daji area of Ordos, and the experimental results are consistent with the actual situation of the reservoir. Based on the foundation of theoretical knowledge, this method enhances the efficiency and accuracy of interpretation and evaluation. It provides fundamental and technical support for the selection of favorable areas in shale gas exploration and the evaluation of exploration and development prospects, particularly in transitional shale gas areas, which is innovative and advanced in the field.

Reduction of the tax burden as a mechanism for stimulating business development in rural areas

The article is devoted to the study of both theoretical aspects of tax stimulation of the development of entrepreneurship in rural areas, as well as the preferential norms for taxation of enterprises that carry out their economic activities in rural areas, provided for in the current legislation of Ukraine, as one of the effective ways of stimulating their development. The relevance of this issue, especially in the conditions of the full-scale armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, is confirmed both in scientific circles and by the survey of business representatives, including micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, conducted after the start of the full-scale invasion. The norms of the current legislation of Ukraine on such main directions of tax stimulation of the development of enterprises in rural areas, which were characteristic of the domestic legislation in different periods of its development, were separately studied, such as: write-off and restructuring of tax debt; reduction of the taxation rate by separate taxes; exemption from payment of certain types of taxes and fees (mandatory payments), introduction of special taxation regimes. On the basis of the conducted research, the advantages and disadvantages of each of these mechanisms of tax incentives were analyzed. It was revealed that, as of today, one of the main preferential tax regimes inherent in enterprises carrying out their economic activities in rural areas is a simplified system of taxation, accounting and reporting. Taking this into account, and in the context of government initiatives to impose an additional fiscal burden in the form of a military levy, in particular, on taxpayers of the third group of single taxes, a proposal is made to balance such a burden at least for a part of taxpayers who carry out their activities in the least favorable rural areas, including the territories affected by the consequences of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, by reducing the taxation rate with a single tax to 2 percent for the period of martial law and for several years after its termination.

Boosting crayfish algorithm based on halton adaptive quadratic interpolation and piecewise neighborhood for complex optimization problems

The Crayfish Optimization Algorithm (CFish) is an innovative meta-heuristic approach that draws inspiration from the movements and behaviors of crayfish. CFish exhibits strong performance across many test sets and optimization issues, but it faces challenges with sluggish convergence, an uneven distribution between exploration and exploitation, and inadequate accuracy due to high-dimensional tasks. To tackle these concerns, this study presents an evolved version named QICFish, which integrates multiple sophisticated strategies to optimize performance. The CFish algorithm improves its population initialization by using the Halton sequence, resulting in a substantial enhancement of the exploration phase and an increase in population variety. Furthermore, the implementation of the adaptive quadratic interpolation approach enhances the algorithm's capacity to exploit its surroundings by eliminating individuals of worse quality and expediting the creation of solutions of superior quality. Furthermore, an adaptive mutation method is employed to improve the process of exploration and effectively locate more favorable areas inside the search space. Finally, the adaptive piecewise neighborhood strategy, enhances the pace of convergence and maintains a balanced transition between exploration and exploitation. Then, QICFish outperforms other cutting-edge algorithms across several dimensions of the CEC’17 and CEC’20 test sets, as shown by experimental comparisons. Furthermore, the efficacy and feasibility of the solution are confirmed by successfully addressing six intricate engineering problems and two truss topology optimization problems. The simulation findings demonstrate that QICFish exhibits robust competitive capabilities and shows great potential for engineering optimization challenges. Therefore, QICFish is a very efficient meta-heuristic approach for solving engineering optimization problems.

Structure and Evolution of Multi-Trend Faults in BZ19-6 Buried Hill of the Bohai Bay Basin, Eastern China

Defining the structure and evolution of multi-trend faults is critical for analyzing the accumulation of hydrocarbons in buried hills. Based on high-resolution seismic and drilling data, the structural characteristics and evolutionary mechanism of multi-trend faults were investigated in detail through the structural analysis theory and quantitative calculations of fault activity, allowing us to determine the implication that fault evolution exerts on hydrocarbon accumulation in the BZ19-6 buried hill. There are four kinds of strike faults developed on the buried hill: SN-, NNE-, NE–ENE-, and nearly EW-trending, which experienced the Mesozoic Indosinian, Yanshan, and Cenozoic Himalayan tectonic movements. During the Indosinian, the BZ19-6 was in a SN-oriented compressional setting, with active faults composed of SN-trending strike-slip faults (west branch of the Tanlu fault zone) and near EW-trending thrust faults (Zhang-peng fault zone). During the Yanshanian, the NNE-trending normal faults were formed under the WNW–ESE tensile stress field. Since the Himalayan period, the BZ19-6 buried hill has evolved into the rifting stage. In rifting stage Ⅰ, all of the multi-trend pre-existing faults were reactivated, and the EW-trending thrust faults became normal faults due to negative inversion. In rifting stage II, a large number of NE–ENE-trending normal faults were newly formed in the NW–SE-oriented extensional setting, which made the structure pattern more complicated. In rifting stage III, the buried hill entered the post-rift stage, with only part of the NNE- and NE–ENE-trending faults continuously active. Multi-trend faults are the result of the combination of various multi-phase stress fields and pre-existing structures, which have great influence on the formation of tectonic fractures and then control the distribution of high-quality reservoirs in buried hills. The fractures controlled by the NNE- and EW-trending faults have higher density and scale, and fractures controlled by NE–ENE trending faults have stronger connectivity and effectiveness. The superposition of multi-trend faults is the favorable distribution of high-quality reservoirs and the favorable accumulation area of hydrocarbon.

Assessing habitat suitability for aoudad (Ammotragus lervia) reintroduction in southeastern morocco to promote ecotourism

The objective of this study is to address the complex task of identifying optimal locations for reintroducing Ammotragus lervia in a semi-arid area in the Eastern High Atlas of Morocco, considering three topographical factors. The study assesses the effectiveness of a commonly used machine learning classifier (MLC) in mapping potential areas for introducing these species, which is crucial for promoting and enhancing local biodiversity. To begin with, an extensive inventory of 88 remaining sites where these Barbary sheep still living was conducted, and precise measurements of three topographical parameters were collected at each site. Subsequently, a machine learning algorithm called Bagging was employed to develop a predictive model. The predictive model demonstrated a high level of performance, as evidenced by an area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.929. Bagging effectively identified favorable areas, encompassing around 13.8 % of the study region, which were predominantly located in the western part. These areas were characterized by mountainous terrain, shorter slopes, and higher altitudes. The research findings provide valuable guidance to decision-makers, offering a roadmap to reintroduce these species for enhancing the local biodiversity in the region.

Impact of Tethyan domain evolution on the formation of petroleum systems in the Sichuan super basin, SW China

Based on the “unidirectional break-up and convergence” geodynamic model, this study investigates the impact of the evolution of the Tethyan domain on the formation of petroleum systems in the Sichuan super basin and explores the enrichment pattern of natural gas. The results show that, firstly, the Sichuan Basin and its surrounding areas have experienced two unidirectional rifting-aggregation cycles triggered by the Proto-Tethys Ocean and the Paleo-Tethys Ocean during the Neoproterozoic to Triassic. During Jurassic–Cenozoic, the Sichuan Basin is incorporated in the circum-Tibetan plateau basin-mountain coupled tectonic domain system. The episodic tectonic movements within the plate control the sedimentary infill styles. Second, the evolution of the Tethyan domain, paleoclimatic environment and major geological events controlled the formation and distribution of high-quality source rocks within the basin. The rift valley and intracratonic rift, passive continental margin slope, and intracratonic sags are favorable areas for the development of source rocks. Third, the evolution of the Tethyan domain, supercontinent cycles, global sea level changes, and tectono-climatic events controlled the distribution of carbonate platform and reservoir-caprock combinations. The cratonic platform margins and sub-platform internal high terrains are key areas for finding carbonate high-energy facies belts. Syndepositional paleo-uplifts and surrounding slopes, regional unconformities, and later faults zone are areas where large-scale carbonate reservoirs are distributed. The regional evaporite or shale caprock are beneficial for the large-scale preservation of oil and gas in the basin. Fourth, the spatio-temporal matching relationship of reservoir forming factors influenced by the early tectonic-sedimentary evolution pattern and the degree of later tectonic modification is the key to oil and gas enrichment. Future oil and gas exploration should focus on potential gas systems during the Sinian rift period, Cambrian pre-salt gas systems in the eastern and southern Sichuan, as well as whole oil and gas systems of Permian and Triassic.

Differential hydrocarbon generation characteristics of organic matter with green algae and cyanobateria origins in the Permain Lucaogou Formation of the Santanghu Basin

Organic-rich fine-grained rocks are key carriers of unconventional oil and gas resources, making it crucial to understand their hydrocarbon generation and evolution characteristics. This study examines the fine-grained rocks of the second member of the Lucaogou Formation (P2l2) in the Tiaohu and Malang Sags of the Santanghu Basin, focusing on how different organic matter (OM) backgrounds - primarily green algae and cyanobacteria - affect hydrocarbon generation and crude oil properties. Kinetic analysis and hydrous pyrolysis experiments on shales rich in green algae, cyanobacteria, and their mixtures revealed that green algae - derived OM requires lower activation energy to initiate hydrocarbon generation, results in an earlier oil generation peak, and has a broader oil window. Conversely, cyanobacteria - derived OM needs higher activation energy to start hydrocarbon generation, has a later oil peak, and a more concentrated generation period. These findings led to two models: the "green algae origin - early hydrocarbon generation - early oil peak - broad oil window model" and the "cyanobacteria origin - late hydrocarbon generation - late oil peak - concentrated oil generation model." Correlation analysis showed that aromatic hydrocarbons, resins, and asphaltenes significantly degrade crude oil quality. Hydrous pyrolysis experiments indicated that the heavy component content (aromatic hydrocarbons + resins + asphaltenes) in liquid hydrocarbons follows the order: residual oil > absorbed oil > expelled oil, with content initially increasing and then decreasing with maturity, and the color change of liquid hydrocarbons in dichloromethane reflects heavy component content changes effectively. Calculations of density and viscosity of liquid hydrocarbons, based on heavy component content and crude oil properties, were compared with the longitudinal distribution of crude oil properties in the study area. Results show that the hydrocarbon generation characteristics of green algae and cyanobacteria control crude oil properties, highlighting significant intra-source differentiation in the P2l2 shale and validates the phase separation approach in hydrous pyrolysis experiments. The P2l2 shale, with its high OM content and substantial hydrocarbon generation, holds great potential for shale oil exploration, but both reservoir quality and crude oil property evolution under different OM backgrounds should be considered when selecting favorable areas.

Comprehensive Study on Hydrogeological Conditions and Suitability Evaluation of In Situ Leaching for Sandstone-Hosted Uranium Deposit in Erlian Basin

As a strategic mineral and energy resource, the enrichment and metallogenic mechanism of sandstone-hosted uranium deposits are highly dependent on hydrogeological conditions. However, the relationship between sandstone uranium mineralization and hydrogeological conditions has not received sufficient attention yet. The pumping test, hydrogeological parameters and hydrochemical characteristics were employed to analyze the change characteristics of hydrogeological conditions and evaluate the suitability of in situ leaching (ISL). The results showed that the study area in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region could be divided into two groundwater subsystems, namely Quanzha-Engeriyin and Luhai-Zhendai. The latter with relatively high water richness is confined and a main ore-bearing aquifer, which consists of four orebodies. The well discharge (Q) and hydraulic conductivity (K) of Orebody II ranged from 98.40 to 867.36 m3/d and 0.25 to 5.64 m/d, respectively, indicating the aquifer is suitable for the migration, enrichment and mineralization of uranium due to relatively high permeability and fast flow rate. The water storage of Orebodies III-IV gradually deteriorated from east to west in a stepped pattern. And the highest values of Q and K in Orebodies III-IV decreased from 1200 m3/d to 120 m3/d and 1.75 m/d to 0.035 m/d, respectively, suggesting these were conducive to a reduction in and accumulation of uranium under poor hydrodynamic conditions. Additionally, the study area would be defined as three grades, including favorable, relatively favorable and unfavorable areas of ISL according to a comprehensive evaluation. This study provided a scientific basis for evaluating the possibility of in situ leaching for sandstone-hosted uranium deposit.

예비교사의 사회과 수업 연구 - 낮은 선호의 내용 영역은 어떻게 수업을 할까?

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine how preservice teachers constructed detours in teaching a less favored area of Social Studies, with implications for their development as professional educators. Methods: To this end, data collected from sixty-five preservice teachers were analyzed based on grounded theory. Results: The results showed that the phenomenon was 'hesitancy to teach non-preferred areas' and the causal condition was 'negative experiences with Social Studies in school'. The contextual condition influencing the change in the central phenomenon was “the influence of the preservice teacher education program,” and the mediating condition was “adjustment with fellow preservice teachers. The action/interaction for breakthrough in teaching non-preferred areas of Social Studies was “the sum of student experiences, preservice curriculum, and teamwork,” which resulted in “a desire to improve the quality of Social Studies teaching. The pattern of bypassing for teaching non-preferred areas of Social Studies was that: first, the causal conditions associated with the central phenomenon acted as antecedents for intervention strategies, with experiences as a student guiding teaching and learning choices; second, knowledge accumulation did not occur as a strategy to counteract the lack of content area knowledge identified as an important reason for non-preferred areas of Social Studies; and third, preservice teachers' current focus was on “how to learn”. Third, a strong perception that Social Studies should reflect life and that life should be influenced by Social Studies was the dominant criterion for choices related to Social Studies instruction. Fourth, circumvention strategies differed across Social Studies content areas, with differences in post-teaching efficacy depending on the degree of congruence between teaching intentions, teaching methods, and demonstration performance. Finally, lesson demonstrations that targeted weaknesses were found to strengthen their commitment to improving the quality of their teaching. Conclusion: Based on the results of the analysis, it is recommended that programs for learning the knowledge and skills of Social Studies should be strengthened, opportunities for lesson demonstration and reflection should be expanded, and the perception of the “life” position of Social Studies should be changed in order to foster preservice teachers' expertise in Social Studies teaching.

Sedimentary Reservoir Characteristics of Fuyu Oil Formation in the Middle of Fuxin Uplift, Southern Songliao Basin

Currently, the Fuyu reservoir in the middle of the Fuxin uplift, located in the southern Songliao Basin, is in a high water cut development stage. The understanding of this reservoir is limited, and the distribution of favorable reservoirs remains unclear, necessitating detailed reservoir characterization. This study employs a combination of well and seismic technologies to accurately depict the sedimentary and reservoir characteristics of the Fuyu oil reservoir. By conducting detailed correlations of oil zones, a regional high-resolution isochronous stratigraphic framework is established. The division of sedimentary microfacies enables fine characterization of single sand bodies, identifying channel boundaries, clarifying lateral connectivity, and detailing the vertical contact relationships of sand bodies across different deposition periods. The results demonstrate that root-mean-square amplitude and total energy metrics effectively correspond to sand bodies in the study area and can be used to analyze sand body distribution. Provenance is primarily from the southwest to the northeast, with shallow deltas predominantly developed. Delta plain subfacies are found in zones 4-12, while delta front subfacies are in zones 1-3. Microfacies types mainly include the main distributary channel, distributary channel sides, crevasse splay, overbank sand, and underwater distributary channels. The main distributary channel reservoirs exhibit the best physical properties, with porosity ranging from 20-25%, while sand bodies at the sides of distributary channels reach 15-20%. Predicted favorable areas are mainly located at the intersections of distributary channels and structural highs, where drilling is likely to yield high oil flow.

Phylogeography and species distribution modeling unveil unnoticed Pliocene diversity: the case of a montane Iberian bush-cricket, Antaxius spinibrachius (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae)

Abstract The geographic distribution and systematics of many groups of insects are still understudied across large geographic areas of the Iberian Peninsula. This lack of knowledge and the fact that many species have a complex evolutionary history due to the existence of “refugia within refugia” have hindered the taxonomic description of the true biodiversity in the Iberian Peninsula. Here, we discuss the evolutionary history of a flightless Iberian bush-cricket Antaxius spinibrachius (Fischer, 1853) using 1 nuclear and 2 mitochondrial markers. We applied species distribution modeling to design sampling strategies in climatically favorable areas and to detect missing isolated populations or unknown lineages. Following the species distribution modeled using all of the presence records available, we discovered 4 new isolated populations in Sierra Madrona, Serra de São Mamede, Sierra de Montánchez, and Sierra de la Demanda. Phylogenetic analyses recovered 2 major Pliocene lineages with a north–south geographic speciation pattern in the Iberian Peninsula. This north–south vicariant event split the common ancestor of these species on either side of the Tagus Valley, probably associated with the Pliocene climate change and the reorganization of paleobasins of the western Iberian Peninsula during the Miocene–Pliocene. We described the southern Iberian Plateau lineage of Antaxius as a new species of bush-cricket based on phylogenetic and morphological evidence, Antaxius oretanus sp. nov. We assessed the conservation status of the new species as “VU B2ab(iii,v)” under the IUCN criteria.

The Gas Production Characteristics of No. 3 Coal Seam Coalbed Methane Well in the Zhengbei Block and the Optimization of Favorable Development Areas

The characteristics and influencing factors of gas production in CBM wells are analyzed based on the field geological data and the productivity data of coalbed methane (CBM) wells in the Zhengbei block, and then the favorable areas are divided. The results show that the average gas production of No. 3 coal seam CBM wells in the study area is in the range of 0~1793 m3/d, with an average of 250.97 m3/d; 80% of the wells are less than 500 m3/d, and there are fewer wells above 1000 m3/d. The average gas production is positively correlated with gas content, critical desorption pressure, permeability, Young’s modulus, and Schlumberger ratio, and negatively correlated with fracture index, fault fractal dimension, Poisson’s ratio, and horizontal stress difference coefficient. The relationship between coal seam thickness and the minimum horizontal principal stress is not strong. The low-yield wells have the characteristics of multiple pump-stopping disturbances, unstable casing pressure control, overly rapid pressure reduction in the single-phase flow stage, sand and pulverized coal production, and high-yield water in the later stage during the drainage process. It may be caused by the small difference in compressive strength between the roof and floor and the coal seam, and the small difference in the Young’s modulus of the floor. The difference between the two high-yield wells is large, and the fracturing cracks are easily controlled in the coal seam and extend along the level. The production control factors from strong to weak are as follows: critical desorption pressure, permeability, Schlumberger ratio, fault fractal dimension, Young’s modulus, horizontal stress difference coefficient, minimum horizontal principal stress, gas content, Poisson’s ratio, fracture index, coal seam thickness. The type I development unit (development of favorable areas) of the Zhengbei block is interspersed with the north and south of the block on the plane, and the III development unit is mainly located in the east of the block and near the Z-56 well. The comprehensive index has a significant positive correlation with the gas production, and the prediction results are accurate.

Designing of a chimeric multiepitope vaccine against bancroftian lymphatic filariasis through immunoinformatics approaches

The filarial worms of Wuchereria bancrofti are the primary cause of lymphatic filariasis (LF), a mosquito-borne disease among the neglected tropical parasitic diseases. Considering the global endemic consequences of the disease, there is a need to develop a successful vaccine candidate against LF. Using advanced immunoinformatics approaches, we designed two multiepitope vaccines targeting W. bancrofti’s glutathione S-transferase and thioredoxin. Therefore, we predicted several MHC-1, MHC-2, and B-cell epitopes from these proteins and mapped two vaccine candidates (V1 and V2). The vaccines were subsequently employed for physicochemical analysis, structural prediction and validation, docking and normal mode analysis, codon optimization, and immune simulation. The selected MHC-1, MHC-2, and B-cell epitopes were antigenic without allergenicity or toxicity. The designed vaccines were expected to be soluble, stable proteins under physiological conditions. Compared to V2, V1’s secondary and tertiary structures were simultaneously favorable, with Ramachandran plot analysis revealing 95.6% residues in favored areas. Subsequently, the molecular docking analysis indicated that the V1 had a high binding affinity for the TLR-2, TLR-4 and TLR-5, as suggested by the docking scores of -1248.7, -1038.5 and -1562.8, respectively. The NMA of these complexes further indicated their structural flexibility. Molecular dynamics simulations of V1-TLR complexes revealed V1-TLR-4 as the most stable, with the lowest free energy and minimal fluctuations, indicating the strongest binding affinity. The results of the codon optimization showed high levels of expression, with a favorable CAI score (<1.0). A three-dose vaccination analysis showed significant and persistent immunological responses, including adaptive and innate immune responses. The findings emphasize the potential of the V1 against W. bancrofti, but further validation is required through in vitro, in vivo, and clinical trials.

Assessment of Potential Aquifer Recharge Zones in the Locumba Basin, Arid Region of the Atacama Desert Using Integration of Two MCDM Methods: Fuzzy AHP and TOPSIS

Natural aquifers used for human consumption are among the most important resources in the world. The Locumba basin faces significant challenges due to its limited water availability for the local population. In this way, the search for possible aquifer recharge zones is crucial work for urban development in areas that have water scarcity. To evaluate this problem, this research proposes the use of the hybrid Fuzzy AHP methodology in conjunction with the TOPSIS algorithm to obtain a potential aquifer recharge map. Ten factors that influence productivity and capacity in an aquifer were implemented, which were subjected to Fuzzy AHP to obtain their weighting. Using the TOPSIS algorithm, the delineation of the most favorable areas with high recharge potential was established. The result shows that the most influential factors for recharge are precipitation, permeability, and slopes, which obtained the highest weights of 0.22, 0.19, and 0.17, respectively. In parallel, the TOPSIS result highlights the potential recharge zones distributed in the Locumba basin, which were classified into five categories: very high (13%), high (28%), moderate (15%), low (28%), and very low (16%). The adapted methodology in this research seeks to be the first step toward effective water resource management in the study area.